URI

Abstract

Previous studies indicated that cognitive conflict continues to bias actions even after a movement
has been initiated. The present paper examined whether cognitive control also biases
actions after movement initiation. To this end, we had participants perform a Stroop task in
which we manipulated the item-specific proportion of (in)congruent trials (80% congruent vs.
20% congruent). Importantly, participants responded via mouse movements, allowing us to
evaluate various movement parameters: initiation times, movement times, and movement
accuracy. Results showed that mouse movements were faster and more accurate during
congruent trials compared to incongruent trials. Moreover, we observed that this congruency
effect was larger for 80% congruent compared to 20% congruent items, which reflects itemspecific
cognitive control. Notably, when responses were initiated very fast ± rendering virtually
no time for stimulus processing before movement onset ± this item-specific control was
observed only in movement times. However, for relatively slow initiated responses, item specific
control was observed both in initiation and in movement times. These findings demonstrate
that item-specific cognitive control biases actions before and after movement initiation.